JUST LIKE A GEISHA EDUCATED in the WAYS of "ENTERTAINING MEN," MEMOIRS WAS ONLY MADE to ENTICE OSCAR VOTERS' ATTENTION...

BUT COULD IT BE BAD ENOUGH to EARN OUR ATTENTION?

It's a Perfect Example of something movie-goers see plenty of at the end of every year: A film that serves no purpose but to get the attention of Academy Members. From the Oscar-snubbed director of Best Picture winner CHICAGO, MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA was supposed to finally win Rob Marshall the Little Gold Naked Man he didn't get in 2003. Instead, it's got an embarrassingly low Critics' Approval Rating at Rotten Tomatoes, and its studio may be starting to panic. SHOULD COLUMBIA/DREAMWORKS CONSIDER LETTING RAZZIE VOTERS IN FREE TO SEE IT?

I don't really care what critics are saying -- But my own impression, based on the trailer and TV spots, is that GEISHA is a pretentious chick-flick designed to get female Oscar votes. I wouldn't be caught DEAD anywhere near any theater showing it!

Oh, boo-hoo! Poor Dumb Old Hollywood! The big studios can't make an actual GOOD movie to save their lives, but they're willing to pump a small fortune into producing and promoting artsy-fartsy face-painted-chicks-in-kimonas crap like this. I HOPE IT BOMBS!

I was fortunate to see an advance release screening. Visually it is beautiful. I felt that they chose the cool and distant aspects of the culture they were attempting to recreate and respresent, and missed some of the fun and fire of the book. Watching it I tried not count omissions, changes or differences from the book, and take it as it's own work. They have taken the core themes and created a Westernized movie version which is interesting. Ultimately though, for me it doesn't resonate the way great films do. Rather, it was a beautiful work that I enjoyed, but I won't probably catch on pay per view or cable/satellite.

I would have loved to see this movie done right. But, leave it to Hollywood. Only an industry run by MBAs and lawyers could take such a very Japanese story, and not cast a single Japanese actress in a principal role! Why? Because to the minds of Hollywood "producers," there aren't any "box office" Japanese actresses. Hell, I can think of several wonderful Japanese actresses who could have handled the roles. To many East Asians, casting Chinese and Malaysian/Chinese actresses (Zhang ZiYi, Michelle Yeoh) is the equivalent of a minstrel show using Caucasian actors in black-face. Even in the USA, we've gotten past casting white actors to play Indians, Mexicans, and East Asians. Essentially, Hollywood is saying "all Asians look alike."

Of course, I'd kill to see what Takashi Miike would have done with it.

I would have loved to see this movie done right. But, leave it to Hollywood. Only an industry run by MBAs and lawyers could take such a very Japanese story, and not cast a single Japanese actress in a principal role! Why? Because to the minds of Hollywood "producers," there aren't any "box office" Japanese actresses. Hell, I can think of several wonderful Japanese actresses who could have handled the roles. To many East Asians, casting Chinese and Malaysian/Chinese actresses (Zhang ZiYi, Michelle Yeoh) is the equivalent of a minstrel show using Caucasian actors in black-face. Even in the USA, we've gotten past casting white actors to play Indians, Mexicans, and East Asians. Essentially, Hollywood is saying "all Asians look alike."

Of course, I'd kill to see what Takashi Miike would have done with it.

Agreed. Those kind of stories must be made by Japanese directors. I would have died to see what would be of this movie if placed in the hands of such guys as Kurosawa, Kitano, Ozu or even Oshima

This is one movie that made me wish I were deaf...it was visually GORGEOUS, but the screenplay and acting left me totally unimpressed. And I guess I'm not alone on that: The ad for it in today's paper was suddenly changed. They're no longer using the white-faced, doll-like image of the Geisha, but a picture of two characters about to embrace...when the studio starts second-guessing the ad campaign, that's a sure sign they think they've got a turkey on their hands!

To add to the points above about "Westernizing" something, it is stated emphatically by the Japanese that Geisha are NOT prostitutes. However, judging by what I have seen of the ad campaigns, it sure looks like they are trying for a Japanese "Pretty Woman."

I am also in agreement - why NOT cast Japanese actresses? Sure, a Japanese starlet might not be well known by "other" audiences, but why not take a chance on an unknown? After all, big stars don't start out that way. Real stars (and I don't mean a Paris Hilton) get their starts by doing small or bit parts, and keeping at it until their big break.

If I were Ziyi Zhang, I would be watching over my shoulder. Have any of the rest of you read what some Chinese are saying or threatening to do to her? Yikes!

Capital punishment turns the state into a murderer... but life imprisonment turns the state into a gay dungeon master.

I actuallu really like "Memoirs" . It was not perfect. The main geisha should have been Japanese (though I liked Ziyi Zhang despite the choppy english) and it was very different from the book. I was very surprised to see the harsh reviews, which I can understand about the acting and casting but not about the film as a whole. I was not quite as surprised with the Golden Globe snub. Come Jan. 31 I still hope it does well with the Oscar nominations (Gong Li should be nominated for Best Supporting Actress).

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